Aeronca C-2

The Aeronca C-2 is an American ultralight monoplane designed by Jean A. Roche and built by Aeronca Aircraft.

Development

The Aeronca C-2, powered by a tiny two-cylinder engine, debuted in 1929. It was flying at its most basic—the pilot sat on a bare plywood board. Originally known as the Roche Original after designer Jean A. Roche (who sold the design rights to Aeronca Aircraft), the C-2 featured an unusual, almost frivolous design with an open-pod fuselage that inspired its nickname, “The Flying Bathtub", The general design of the C-2 could have been inspired by Jean Roche's initial flight experiences with an American-built copy of the Santos-Dumont Demoiselle, which had a similar triangular "basic" fuselage cross-section, and wire spoked main landing gear wheels right up against the fuselage sides.

Equipped with only five instruments, a stick, and rudder pedals (brakes and a heater cost extra), the C-2 was priced at a low $1,495, bringing the cost of flying down to a level that a private citizen could aspire to and perhaps reach. Aeronca sold 164 of the economical C-2s at the height of the Great Depression in 1930-1931, helping to spark the growth of private aviation in the United States.

The Aeronca C-2 also holds the distinction of being the first aircraft to be refueled from a moving automobile. A can of gasoline was handed up from a speeding Austin automobile to a C-2 pilot, (who hooked it with a wooden cane) during a 1930 air show in California. A seaplane version of the C-2 was also offered, designated the PC-2 and PC-3 (“P” for pontoon) with floats replacing the wheeled landing gear.

Variants

Aeronca C-2

Single-seat light sporting aircraft, powered by a 26-hp (19-kW) Aeronca E-107A piston engine.Template:Citation needed

Aeronca C-2 Deluxe

Improved version, with a wider fuselage and a number of design improvements.Template:Citation needed

Aeronca C-2N Scout

De luxe sporting aircraft, powered by a 36-hp (27-kW) Aeronca E-112 or E-133A piston engine.Template:Citation needed

Aeronca PC-2

Seaplane version of the C-2.Template:Citation needed

Aeronca PC-2 Deluxe

Seaplane version of the C-2 Deluxe.Template:Citation needed

Specifications (C-2)

Data from Aeronca C-2: The Story of the Flying Bathtub

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 20 ft (6.10 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft (10.98 m)
• Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.28 m)
• Wing area: 142.2 ft² (13.2 m²)
• Empty weight: 406 lbs (184 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Aeronca E-107A (4.125x4=106.9 (1.75L)) , 26-30 hp ()

Performance

• Maximum speed: 80 mph (128 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 65 mph (104 km/h)
• Stall speed: 31 mph (50 km/h)
• Range: 240 mi (384 km)
• Service ceiling: 16,500 ft (5032 m)
• Wing loading: 4.92 lb/ft² (24 kg/m²)

See also

Related development

• Aeronca C-3

References

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Aeronca C-2".